EP1721516B1 - Device for closing a silo - Google Patents

Abstract

Sealing system for flat silo covers (4 - 6) comprises rods (8) with transverse grooves along each edge. These are mounted on springs (9) attached to the silo walls (2) and press down on the covers.

Description

The invention relates to a device for a silo closure according to the preamble of claim 1.

In agriculture, a variety of silo types, such as flax silos, feed silos, foil silos, foil flax silos, etc. are known. In such silos, for example, feeds are to be fermented in a hermetically sealed space, similar to sauerkraut production, whereby the oxygen is consumed and degraded to CO ² . For this purpose, for example, grass, corn, sugar beets, etc. into consideration, so in principle, everything that has a green mass fraction.

In order to ensure the airtight seal for fermentation of the feedstock, a cover is usually placed in practice in particular in so-called flax silos in the form of a film on the feedstock and weighted at its peripheral edge on the ground or on a side wall of the silo. Worn tires of motor vehicles as such weighting agents are well known. Discarded heavy rubber mats from conveyor systems are also used.

As an inexpensive weighting means also sandbags have proven, especially narrow, long plastic bags. Such weighted bags, which have been well proven in practice, are well known. These silosacks weigh between 15 kg and 18 kg per bag and must be strung together to hermetically seal the silo. With a silo size of, for example, 30 mx 8 m, therefore, 1.4 t to 1.8 t must be moved by hand in order to cover the silo.

Also known is the so-called three-film principle: Here is placed as the first film on the silage stick only 0.04 mm thick PE film. This film sticks to the surface of the silage stick, so to speak, through the adhesion effect. As a result of the bonding, this foil can not move like an air pump over the silage stick and thereby permanently pump oxygen onto the silage stick and thus cause fermentation failure. The second film, the so-called silage film, uses a durable, UV-stabilized polyethylene film, which creates a stable and waterproof surface for at least one year. The third film, the so-called side film, is a PE film, which may also be transparent or an old film used. This film protects the side walls of the concrete silo plants from the aggressive fermentation acids as well as the silage stick from a lateral air inlet due to possibly leaking concrete walls.

By the German patent DE 3839072 C2 a device for a silo closure is known, which should be easier to handle and cheaper than the usual weighting means such as car tires, sandbags and the like. The device consists of a silage or Stockhäring with at least indirectly on the cover, covered with the silage stick becomes, pressing clamping element. By the named DE 3839072 C2 It is also known that the clamping element does not act directly on the formed in the form of a foil cover of the silage stick, but indirectly via a pipe. The pipe can be laid parallel to the side wall of the silo, with the tarpaulin around the Pipe placed around and pressed by a siloharing driven along the silo wall in the silage stick firmly on the silage stick.

However, it was not possible to prevent all the devices for silo connections known hitherto that complete coverage of fermented feed silos occurred at high wind speeds. In the increasingly occurring stormy weather conditions, the films used with the known devices can not be protected in all cases from lifting by the suction forces generated by the wind.

In the magazine L'ELEVEUR LAITIER no. 125 MAY 2005 page 60 a device for a silo closure is shown and described, in which the from the DE 3839072 C2 known, laid parallel to the side wall of the silo contact pressure element is designed as a double pressure rail. This pressure rail is pressed by a plurality of Druckverteilschienen provided with pressure rods down. The pressure rods are each guided in a vertical, trained as a ratchet slide and are pulled by a coil spring down. The slide rails are attached to crane-like arms, which are guided in a wall rail, which is mounted on top of the silo wall. Although this complex construction serves the intended purpose, but is complicated due to the large number of individual elements, expensive and uneconomical.

Object of the present invention is to provide a simple to handle with a few items, inexpensive device with a silage stick can be covered airtight and waterproof on top and on all sides when needed and the entire cover offers the suction forces of the wind resistance.

This is achieved by the features stated in the characterizing part of claim 1 according to the invention.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

By the present invention, an extremely easy to handle device is created, by means of which a silage stick airtight and storm-proof can be completed.

• Fig. 1: einen Teil eines Flachsilos mit verschiedenen Abdeckelementen, vertikal aufgeschnitten in verkleinerter schematischer Darstellung;
• Fig. 2: einen Abschnitt der Innenseite einer Silowand, in verkleinerter schematischer Darstellung;
• Fig. 3: den oberen Teil einer Silo-Innenwand mit zwei paarweise fixierten Federelementen, in verkleinerter schematischer Darstellung, von der Seite gesehen;
• Fig. 4: den oberen Teil einer Silo-Außenwand mit einem in die Betonwand eingeklebten Bügel;
• Fig. 5: ein als Doppelschenkelfeder mit außenliegenden Füßen ausgebildetes Federelement, von oben gesehen;
• Fig. 6: ein als Doppelschenkelfeder mit innenliegenden Füßen ausgebildetes Federelement, von oben gesehen;
• Fig. 7: die Füße einer Doppelschenkelfeder und einen Bügel, von oben gesehen;
• Fig. 8:die Füße einer Doppelschenkelfeder hinter einem Bügel eingerastet, von oben gesehen;
• Fig. 9: einen als Rippenstab ausgebildeten Druckstab;
• Fig. 10: den oberen Teil einer Silo-Außenwand mit einer Doppelschenkelfeder und einem Druckstab, in unterschiedlichen Positionen, von der Seite gesehen;
• Fig. 11: den oberen Teil einer Silo-Außenwand mit einer Doppelschenkelfeder und einem Druckstab, vor und nach der Setzung des Silagestockes, von der Seite gesehen;
• Fig. 12: eine aus Bandstahl gefertigte Spannfeder, von oben gesehen;
• Fig. 13: eine Spannfeder, die mittels eines Bügels (vgl. Detail A) an einem glatten Druckstab fixiert ist, von der Seite gesehen;
• Fig. 14: eine Spannfeder, die mittels einer Scheibe (vgl. Detail B) an einem glatten Druckstab fixiert ist, von der Seite gesehen;
• Fig. 15: das Oberteil einer Silowand mit einem starren Arm, an dem eine Wendelfeder anliegt, die mittels eines Verschiebe- und Feststellgliedes an einem Druckstab fixiert ist, von der Seite gesehen;
• Fig. 16: das Oberteil einer Silowand mit einem starren Arm, an dem eine Wendelfeder anliegt, die mittels eines Bügels an einem Druckstab selbsthemmend fixiert ist, von der Seite gesehen;
• Fig. 17: das Oberteil einer Silowand, an der eine Biege- und Torsionsfeder befestigt ist, die mittels eines Verschiebe- und Feststellgliedes an einem Druckstab fixiert ist, von der Seite gesehen;
• Fig. 18: das Oberteil einer Silowand, an der eine Bandfeder befestigt ist, die mittels eines Verschiebe- und Feststellgliedes an einem Druckstab fixiert ist, von der Seite gesehen.

The invention will be explained in detail below with reference to the embodiments and the drawings. Show it:

• Fig. 1: a part of a flax silo with different cover elements, vertically cut in a reduced schematic representation;
• 2 shows a section of the inside of a silo wall, in a reduced schematic representation;
• 3 shows the upper part of a silo inner wall with two pairs of fixed spring elements, in a reduced schematic representation, seen from the side.
• 4 shows the upper part of a silo outer wall with a bracket glued into the concrete wall;
• FIG. 5: a spring element designed as a double leg spring with external feet, viewed from above; FIG.
• FIG. 6 shows a spring element designed as a double leg spring with internal feet, viewed from above; FIG.
• Fig. 7: the feet of a double leg spring and a hanger, seen from above;
• 8 shows the feet of a double leg spring locked behind a bracket, seen from above;
• FIG. 9 shows a pressure rod designed as a ribbed rod; FIG.
• Fig. 10: the upper part of a silo outer wall with a double leg spring and a push rod, in different positions, seen from the side;
• Fig. 11: the upper part of a silo outer wall with a double leg spring and a push rod, before and after the placement of the silage stick, seen from the side;
• Fig. 12: a tension spring made of steel strip, seen from above;
• Fig. 13: a tension spring, which is fixed by means of a bracket (see detail A) on a smooth pressure rod, seen from the side;
• Fig. 14: a tension spring which is fixed by means of a disc (see detail B) on a smooth pressure rod, seen from the side;
• Fig. 15: the upper part of a silo wall with a rigid arm on which a coil spring rests, which is fixed by means of a sliding and locking member to a push rod, seen from the side;
• Fig. 16: the upper part of a silo wall with a rigid arm on which a coil spring rests, which is fixed by means of a bracket on a push rod self-locking, seen from the side;
• Fig. 17: the upper part of a silo wall, to which a bending and torsion spring is fixed, which is fixed by means of a sliding and locking member to a push rod, seen from the side;
• Fig. 18: the upper part of a silo wall to which a band spring is fixed, which is fixed by means of a sliding and locking member to a push rod, seen from the side.

In Fig. 1, a flat foil silo 1 is shown in a schematic representation, which may have a rectangular shape in plan view. Between the silo inner walls 2, a silage stick 3 is introduced, which consists of green mass containing, airtight to be fermented agricultural crops. The silage stick 3 is covered with a lower foil 4 and laterally hammered into a side foil 5. This film protects the side walls of the concrete silo plants from the aggressive fermentation acids as well as the Silagestock before a lateral air inlet due to possibly leaky concrete walls. The third covering or protective element is a silage foil 6 or a silo protective grid placed on top of the silage stick 3.

Immediately along the silo-inner wall 2 is on the cover forming three foils 4, 5, 6, one of the longitudinal distribution of pressure forces serving pressing element 7 laid. The contact pressure element 7 consists in the illustrated embodiment of a pipe, in particular plastic pipe, preferably of a PE pipe. As an alternative, however, a rod of round cross-section, preferably a wooden rod, can be used.

The pressing member 7 is pressed by pressure rods 8 down so that this is pressed with a force component on the silage stick 3 and with a further force component in the direction of the silo inner wall 2. The pressure rods 8 are inserted into spring elements 9, which are biased manually upon insertion of the pressure rods 8 upwards and thus exert a downward force. As spring elements 9 are flat springs, torsion springs, double torsion springs, spring rods or other springs in question. The pressure rods 8 are designed as rib rods and used in different longitudinal positions in the spring elements 9 and self-locking clamped. At the lower end of the pressure rod 8 is a circumferential profile of the contact element 7 approximately adapted saddle disc (not shown) attached, which transfers the pressure on the contact element 7 evenly. The caliper may be rigid, mobile or loose connected to the push rod 8.

The spring elements 9 are clamped with their feet 10 in metal bracket 11 tip over, which are glued on top of the silo walls. The uppermost layer of the cover, the silage film 6 or the silo protection grid, is pulled up with the edge extending parallel to the silo inner wall 2 behind the contact pressure element 7 on the silo inner wall 2 and placed over the brackets 11. When inserting the spring elements 9 in the bracket 11, the film 6 is pierced with the feet 10 of the spring elements 9 and thus fixed to the brackets 11.

In Fig. 2, a portion of a silo wall 2 is shown, which consists of several concrete segments, on the upper side spring elements 9 are clamped.

Fig. 3 shows the upper part of a silo-intermediate wall 12. On its upper side two spring elements 9 are pairwise clamped on a metal bracket 11 so that each of the spring elements 9 protrudes into an adjacent chamber of the silo. The metal bracket 11 is glued to the upper end of the silo-intermediate wall 12 or secured by dowels. The spring elements 9 are manually biased before at their free ends in each case a push rod 8 is used, which presses with its lower end on a tubular pressing member 7. The pressure rods 8 are designed as ribbed rods with ribs (13, FIG. 9) mounted on two opposite longitudinal sides and can be inserted into the spring elements 9 in different longitudinal positions and fixed in a self-locking manner about their longitudinal axis by rotation through 90 degrees. If the length of the pressure rod 8 is not sufficient because the level in the silo is too low, - as Fig. 3 makes it clear - worked with different lengths of pressure rods 8. Thus, a constant force can be exerted on the pressing elements 7.

In Fig. 4, the upper part of a silo wall 2 is shown. On the upper front side of the concrete wall a bracket 11 is glued. The distance between the horizontal cross member of the bracket 11 from the top of the silo wall 2 is dimensioned so that between the bracket 11 and the end face of the silo wall 2, the feet 10 of a spring element 9 can be inserted and lock in a tilt-proof and self-locking.

Fig. 5 shows a spring element 9, which is designed as a double leg spring with outer feet 10. Fig. 6 shows a spring element 9, which is designed as a double leg spring with inner feet 10. The spring arms 14 of the double torsion springs are each angled so far inward that they are so close to each other that the introduced between them pressure bars (not shown) are held provisionally before tightening the spring elements 9 and can not tip over or drop out to the side of the silo skirt. The spring arms 14 form a fork in which the push rod is fixed horizontally.

In Figs. 7 and 8, the insertion of the spring elements with their feet 10 is shown in the bracket 11. The feet 10 of the double leg springs each have a bend 15. When mounting the spring elements, the feet 10 are pressed against each other and put under the bracket 11, so that they engage with their offsets 15 behind the brackets 11.

In Fig. 9, a push rod 8 is shown, which is provided on two opposite longitudinal sides with ribs 13. The push rod 8 is longitudinally displaceable by its smooth longitudinal sides between the arms of the spring element and self-locking by rotation about 90 degrees about its longitudinal axis.

FIG. 10 shows the upper part of a silo outer wall 2 with a spring element 9 designed as a double leg spring and a pressure rod 8 which presses a tubular pressing element 7 onto the silage block. The double leg spring is snapped with its feet 10 under a bracket 11 and fixed, which is attached to the top of the silo outer wall 2 by gluing or dowels. The position shown in dashed lines shows the spring element 9 in the relaxed state with the force applied to the pressing element 7 push rod 8. Introduced between the arms of the double leg spring pressure rod 8 is held provisionally before tensioning the spring and can not tilt to the side of the silage skirt or fall out , The double leg spring has a loop 16 at its free end and can thus be pulled up by hand. The loop 16 is bent upwards so as not to injure or puncture the silage film when the spring element 9 is unintentionally returned. Even at rest, a sufficiently large distance between the concrete wall and the spring to prevent jamming of the hand in an accidental snap back of the spring. The drawn with full strokes position shows the tensioned spring element 9 with inserted and fixed pressure rod. 8

In Fig. 11, two positions of the spring element 9, the pressure rod 8 and the pressing element 7 are also shown. The dashed line position shows the position of said parts after filling the edge of the silo. At the beginning of ensiling, a larger downward force component is desired. The fully tensioned spring element 9 therefore presses in this position with a larger force component on the pressure rod 8 and the pressing member 7 on the silage stick to accelerate the settling process. The position drawn with full strokes shows the parts after the placement and lowering of the silage stick. In this position, the pressure rod 8 exerts a greater force component to the silo wall 2 out.

Fig. 12 shows a tension spring 20, which is made of strip steel and is provided at one end with a slot 22 or a slot. With this end (left in the drawing), the tension spring on the top of the silo wall either individually or as described with reference to FIG. 3 pairs secured by screws or dowels, the locking position can be moved as desired within the slot or slot area. At the free, resilient end of the tension spring 20 is also a slot 23 is provided, in which the push rod (not shown) is inserted. An additional bend 21 at the free end of the tension spring 20 prevents the pressure rod can disengage at corresponding force components during installation in a variety of operative positions. One or more holes 46 along the central axis of the tension spring 20 allow further adjustments of the tension spring 20 and the pressure rod.

13 shows a tension spring 20 'which is fixed to a smooth pressure rod 8' by means of a bracket 26 (see detail A). The ribless pressure rod 8 'can be inexpensively made in one piece with a bending machine. In the illustrated embodiment, the push rod 8 'is bent and provided at its the cover of the silage floor end facing with a circumferential profile of the pressing element 7 adapted bend. The push rod 8 'is inserted into a bore 28 and a slot 29 of the bracket 26. For installation, the Bracket 26 moves in the direction of the arrow. Due to the introduction of force, the edges solve at the bore 28, which allows a shift to the desired point of force. When releasing the bracket 26 this tilts back again in the opposite direction of force and tilted self-locking over the edges of the bore 28. The force of the tension spring 20 'then acts on its free end 24 on the bracket 26 and over the edges of its bore 28 on the Push rod 8 '.

14 shows a tension spring 20 'which is fixed by means of a disk 30 (see detail B) to a smooth pressure rod 8'. By lifting the disc 30 of the frictional connection is lifted over the edges of the bore 35, which allows a displacement and tensioning of the tension spring 20 '. After releasing the disc 30, the restoring force flows on one side over the free end 24 of the tension spring 20 'on the disc 30 back, resulting in a tilting within the bore 35 and the pressure rod 8' self-locking fixed. By applying a raised support 38 on the disc 30, this effect can be supported, especially when the push rod 8 'is inserted into other positions in the tension spring 20', z. B. in a further inwardly disposed bore 46. The push rod 8 'is bent and provided at its lower end with a bend which is adapted to the circumferential profile of the pressing element 7. An additional saddle disc at the lower end of the push rod 8 'is not required in this design.

In Fig. 15, the upper part of a silo wall 2, 12 is shown, on the upper end side of a rigid arm 40 by means of a screw 17, a disc 18 and a dowel 19 is attached. In a bore 47 of the arm 40, a push rod 8 'is inserted. The pressure force on the contact pressure element 7 is generated by means of a helical spring 48 which surrounds the pressure rod 8 'and rests with its base on the underside of the free end of the arm 40. The resilient free end of the coil spring 48 is fixed by means of a displacement and locking member 41 on the push rod 8 '. The displacement and locking member 41 is designed as a clamping mechanism that can be clamped by means of an eccentric lever or a screw in different longitudinal positions of the push rod 8 '.

16 shows the upper part of a silo wall 2, 12 with a rigid arm 40, which is fastened with a screw 17, a disc 18 or a dowel 19 on the upper end side of the silo wall 2, 12. In a bore 47 of the arm 40, a push rod 8 'is inserted. At the bottom of the free end of the arm 40 is a coil spring 48 which surrounds the push rod 8 'and is fixed at its free resilient end by means of a bracket 26 on the push rod 8' self-locking. The function of this bracket 26 has been explained in detail with reference to FIG. The push rod 8 'presses on the pressing member 7 of the covered silage stick.

In Fig. 17, the upper part of a silo wall 2, 12 is shown, on which a bracket 52 is fastened by means of a screw 17, a disc 18 and a dowel 19. In the bracket 52, a bending and torsion spring 45 is clamped, which acts via a sliding and locking member 39 on a push rod 8 'and thus on the pressing member 7 of the silage stick. The constitution and function of the fixing member 39 has been described with reference to FIG. 15.

Fig. 18 shows an arcuate leaf spring 49 which is screwed or pegged on the upper end side of a silo wall 2, 12 (Pos. 17, 18, 19). The transmission of force via a pressure rod 8 'on the contact pressure element 7 via a displacement and locking member 41, which was described with reference to FIG. 15.

Claims (12)

1. A device for a hopper gate, particularly for flat silos, in order to laterally fix an air-tight cover that can be placed over a silage level and consists of one or more film layers, with several springable pressing mechanisms that are connected to the silo walls, and with several compression bars that are respectively acted upon by the pressing mechanisms and press a pressing element against the cover, characterized in that the compression bars (8, 8') are acted upon by pressure springs (9, 20, 20', 48), the base of which is anchored on the upper side of the silo walls (2, 12) and the springable end of which can be directly or indirectly clamped on the compression bars (8, 8') in different longitudinal positions.
2. The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the compression bars (8) are realized in the form of ribbed bars and can be directly inserted into the spring elements (9, 20) and clamped therein in a self-locking fashion in different longitudinal positions.
3. The device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the compression bars (8) are provided with ribs (13) on two of their opposite longitudinal sides and can be fixed on arms (14) of the spring elements (9) by being turned by 90 degrees about their longitudinal axis.
4. The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the compression bars are realized in the form of smooth bars (8') and can be directly inserted into the spring elements (20, 20') and clamped in different longitudinal positions by means of a component that can be displaced on the compression bar (8').
5. The device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the displaceable component consists of a strap (26) or a plate (30) and can be clamped in a self-locking fashion on the compression bar (8') in different longitudinal positions by means of jamming.
6. The device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the displaceable component consists of a locking element (41) that is realized in the form of a silent ratchet and can be fixed on the compression bar (8') in different longitudinal positions.
7. The device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the compression bars (8') are bent or cranked and provided with a bend that is adapted to the circumferential profile of the pressing element (7) on their end that faces the cover of the silage level.
8. The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pressure spring, is realized in the form of a tension spring (20, 20', 49) of strip steel.
9. The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pressure spring is realized in the form of a double-limbed torsion spring (45).
10. The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the pressure spring is realized in the form of a spiral coiled spring (48) that surrounds the compression bar (8') and abuts an arm (40) fixed on the upper side of the silo wall with its base..
11. The device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the compression bars (8, 8') act upon a rod-shaped or tube-shaped pressing element (7) that is installed directly on the cover along the inner silo wall (2, 12) and serves for the longitudinal distribution of the compressive forces in such a way that it can be pressed against the silage level (3) with one component force and in the direction of the inner silo wall (2, 12) with another component force.
12. The device according to Claim 2 or 4, characterized in that a saddle plate arranged on the lower end of the compression bar (8) is approximately adapted to the circumferential, profile of the pressing element (7).

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